Sexually explicit sculptures may be found on a number of medieval churches in France and Spain. This fascinating study examines the origins and purposes of these sculptures, viewing them not as magical fertility symbols, nor even as idols of ancient pre-Christian religions, but as serious works that dealt with the sexual customs and salvation of medieval... more...

In The Color of Stone, Charmaine A. Nelson brilliantly analyzes a key, but often neglected, aspect of neoclassical sculptureÑcolor. Considering three major worksÑHiram PowersÕs Greek Slave, William Wetmore StoryÕs Cleopatra, and Edmonia LewisÕs Death of CleopatraÑshe explores the intersection of race, sex, and class to... more...

The art history of South Asian covers a time span of roughly four and a half thousand years. During this period, a vast number of animal stone sculptures has been produced, ranging from the pre-historic period till today and covering a great variety of motifs and imagery in different regions and religious traditions. Even so, the number of studies... more...